Local reference doses during cardiology procedures

As part of a Regional Patient Dosimetry Programme in the North of England, dose-area product measurements on over five thousand patients undergoing cardiology examinations are presented. The data have been corrected according to patient size where possible, As the dose distributions are skewed the results are presented as first quartile, median and third quartile values. The third quartile value is suggested as the local reference dose value. The following local reference doses have been proposed, 74.4, 46.5, 36.5 Gy.cm(2) for angioplasty (single vessel), left ventricles and coronaries, and coronary artery only, respectively.